Difference between Machine Learning and AI

“What is AI and what is Machine Learning?” These terms are often used interchangeably, but they are not the same. The world of AI is very confusing and AI and Machine Learning are therefore often used interchangeably. There are, however, clear differences. Machine Learning is a part of Artificial Intelligence in short. To understand Machine Learning, you must therefore first understand what Artificial Intelligence is.

Artificial Intelligence

Artificial Intelligence is the umbrella term for machines that show ‘human intelligence’. This ranges from things like “Siri” or “Alexa” to models that make self-driving cars possible. Within AI, the split is often made between General AI and Narrow AI.

Narrow AI can perform one task very well. Often better than people, but is limited to just this task. For example, viewing MRI scans to search for disorders or recognizing speech (for example, Siri or Alexa).

General AI is much smarter and can independently reason, find solutions to new problems, plans and much more. General AI is much smarter than people, but is also currently a concept for the future. No AI model that currently exists is a form of General AI. Read more about the different forms of AI here.

Are you still there? Well done! The examples above are therefore examples of Artificial Intelligence, but not of Machine Learning.

Machine learning

Machine Learning is about machines that can ‘learn’ independently. Learning here means that as the machine has experienced more situations and has more data, it gets better outcomes and can make more accurate predictions. However, to learn, the machine first needs input.

For example, if you want to train a machine to recognize the difference between cat and dog photos, you first give it a stack of cat and dog photos and indicate which photos are from a cat and which are from a dog. The machine then learns the difference between a cat and a dog and can indicate for unidentified photos whether this is a dog or a cat. The more training data this machine has had, the better this identification will be and the more identifications this machine makes, the more accurate it will become.

The purpose of Machine Learning is to ensure that the machine makes better predictions and becomes more accurate. This learning process can be done via four different techniques: Supervised Learning, Unsupervised Learning, Semi-Supervised Learning and Reinforcement Learning.

Supervised Learning

‘Supervising’ means ‘observing and directing the execution of a task, project or activity’. In the case of machine learning, we are not talking about people, but about overseeing a machine learning model. Supervision in this case is not done by watching, but by learning a model knowledge.

This knowledge consists of labeled data sets, where you as a supervisor indicate which input you give to the machine and which output belongs to it. If we use the example of the cats and dog photos above, then you provide a dataset with photos and you say that photo 1 is a cat, photo 2 is a cat, photo 3 is a dog etc.

Supervised Learning uses classification and regression techniques to develop predictive models. Classification techniques classify labeled data: “This photo is a cat and this photo is a dog.” A regression analysis does not focus on classification, but focuses on identifying and predicting trends based on earlier data.

Use Supervised Learning if you want to train a model to make predictions, for example the future value of a variable, such as temperature or a stock price. Or use this to efficiently categorize large data sets by predetermined variables, such as classifying various incoming e-mails.

Unsupervised Learning

With Unsupervised Learning, a computer is trained with non-labeled data. To repeat the example of photos, give the machine a stack of photos and tell them to be categorized, but do not specify the categories beforehand.

It is used to find hidden patterns or groupings in data, even if it is not entirely clear to humans what the model should look for or what response is expected.

It is difficult to determine how accurate these models are because we are talking about non-labeled data here and even if people are not sure about the expected result. Nevertheless, in fields where Supervised Learning is too complex, expensive or time-intensive, you can achieve good models through Unsupervised Learning. It may be harder to measure than Supervised Learning, but it can still lead to interest results. There are four different ways to apply Unsupervised Learning:

Clustering

Is the most common technique in Unsupervised Learning? The model searches for similarities in the dataset and groups together similar data. Even without specific knowledge of a certain subject, the model can make large groups. For example, think of sorting different wines. Without specific knowledge of wine you can make groups in red, white and rosé, cork or screw cap, content etc.

Detect irregularity

Through Unsupervised Learning can also be valuable. For example, banks monitor whether fraudulent transactions are being made by looking at irregularities. If someone withdrew money in the Netherlands an hour ago and is now trying to withdraw money in Moscow, then something is wrong. In this way a model can also recognize irregularities in data sets.

Recognize relationships

Between various details, you will be advised to use diapers and baby food at your Bol.com checkout basket full of baby items. By looking at multiple data points, an Unsupervised Learning model can make a prediction about which other attributes have to do with this data and give these attributes as a recommendation.

Auto-Encoders

Accept the input data, compress it to code, and then try to get the input data again by building this code, but then completely built in code. This in itself is practically difficult to implement, but by combining this with practical problems this can become very valuable. With these encoders you can for example create sharper photos, improve sound recordings or even make the image of a medical scan extra clear and pure.

Semi-Supervised Learning

Semi-Supervised Learning combines Unsupervised and Supervised Learning. This is mainly used for models for which the labeling of data is difficult and must be carried out by experts. For example, a doctor can look at MRI photos and scan them for diseases or conditions, but cannot do this for thousands of different scans.

With Semi-Supervised Learning, the model therefore receives a limited data set that is labeled, and the rest of the data is trained through Unsupervised Learning. A popular way to train algorithms with a limited set of data is to have two algorithms work against each other in a competition.

One algorithm must hide, while the other must search. If the seeker wins, the hide and seek will look for new ways to hide better. If the hide and seek is better hidden, the viewfinder is forced to search better and so on. This is how the algorithm trains itself.

Reinforced Learning

The video above actually combines Semi-Supervised Learning with Reinforced Learning. With Reinforced Learning you give the algorithm a specific goal and you let the model know what actions it takes. After each reaction follows either a reward or a negative reaction.

The model tries to get the reward as often as possible and wants to make the reward as high as possible. As a result, the model starts experimenting and experimenting to find the actions that give the highest rewards. The model learns from previous situations and is constantly looking for new and additional ways to get a higher reward.

The difference between AI and Machine Learning: the Conclusion

Machine learning is covered by Artificial Intelligence. AI is about the “intelligence” of machines that can perform human actions. The current status of AI uses Narrow AI, the very good execution of one task. In the future, AI is very likely to become smarter and to be able to form opinions independently, understand new situations and conduct discussions. When this happens, AI will officially become smarter than humans.

When AI independently learns from previous experiences by delivering increasingly accurate results, we speak of machine learning. To achieve success with machine learning, it is important that the algorithm has training data to learn from. This training can be done in four different ways. Only after processing huge data sets of training data through one of these ways, a machine learning algorithm can give the most positive results.

Also Read

AI and other Technologies Reshaping the Food Industry

Top AI Development Companies in New York

Top AI Development Company in Seattle, USA

The Benefits of Fintech for your Company

Top 10 AI Developers in USA

zazz-io

Zazz has since been committed to facilitating services that go beyond excellence. We create apps to meet the needs of an evolving digital landscape. We are a leading mobile app development company . We design & develop web & mobile apps that drive today's businesses. Backed by research and development, Zazz uses technology, software, mobile, and customer service to create new revenue-generating opportunities. So contact Zazz to see your dream idea as the next big thing. We Offer Top Services iOS App Development , Android app development , React development , Flutter development , IoT Development , AR / VR development , Digital Marketing Services - SEO , SMO , PPC , Ecommerce App Development, cloud app development, front end development, education app development services, Mean Stack Web Development, Content Marketing, etc.